HOLY WEDNESDAY
Sacramental Brotherhood of the Most Holy Trinity and Confraternity of Penitents of the Sacred Scourging of Our Lord Jesus Christ and Mary Most Holy of Bitterness. |
Historical Background
The brotherhood’s identity is closely associated with the Parish Church of Los Descalzos and with devotion to the Scourging of Christ and to María Santísima de la Amargura (Mary Most Holy of Bitterness). Its artistic heritage includes sacred images from different periods, among which the Christ of the Scourging stands out for both its age and its artistic quality. These milestones illustrate how the brotherhood gradually shaped its religious identity, processional traditions and artistic heritage.
Its current canonical seat is the Parish Church of San Juan Bautista, commonly known as Los Descalzos, at Calle Medina, s/n, 11401 Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz), from where it maintains devotion to its sacred images and its close ties with the local parish community. Today, the brotherhood makes its annual penitential procession on Holy Wednesday, taking its place among the brotherhoods of Holy Week in Jerez.
Its foundation, the blessing of sacred images, subsequent reorganisations, restorations and inaugural processions are all important milestones in understanding its present-day identity. Over time, the continuity of its religious worship and the preservation of its sacred images have helped strengthen the bonds between successive generations of brotherhood members. This historical journey helps explain the distinctive character with which the brotherhood takes its place today within Holy Week in Jerez.
Sacred Images
Nuestro Padre Jesús de la Sagrada Flagelación (Our Father Jesus at the Sacred Scourging) was created by the Italian sculptor Jácome Baccaro around 1749–1750 and is an outstanding example of late Baroque religious sculpture. The brotherhood’s principal Marian image is María Santísima de la Amargura (Mary Most Holy of Bitterness).
The brotherhood’s full official name is “Hermandad Sacramental de la Santísima Trinidad y Cofradía de Nazarenos de la Sagrada Flagelación de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo y María Santísima de la Amargura”. This title brings together the sacred dedications that shape the brotherhood’s religious worship and reflect both the Passion of Christ and its particular Marian devotion. The principal sacred images form the devotional centre of the brotherhood. When they are part of a misterio, or sculptural group depicting a scene from the Passion, they are arranged to convey the corresponding Gospel episode through visual storytelling.
The inclusion of saints, apostles and other sacred dedications, where present, completes the brotherhood’s spiritual programme and highlights its particular historical or religious associations. Together, these sacred images form a unified devotional and artistic identity, representing the brotherhood both in its regular religious worship and in its annual Holy Week procession. This historical and devotional journey explains the distinctive place the brotherhood holds today within Holy Week in Jerez
Home Church: Church of San Juan Bautista, commonly known as Los Descalzos, at Calle Medina, s/n, 11401 Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz)
Pictures / more info (Spanish)
